Tea Magick, Going Within

Tea Magick – Going Within

Tea is as old as plants and water. Humans have known the valuable properties tea can offer; From alleviating symptoms of the common cold to lowering cholesterol, to stimulating the sex drive… and so much more. Tea has been around for centuries and has been used by many cultures in a variety of ways; including Magick!

I have been a practicing Witch for well over 2 decades. I have been a certified Master Herbalist for well over 15 years, and one thing I feel is missing from the Magickal world is tea. Rarely do you hear about tea being used in ritual and Magick. Of course, we have all heard of the Japanese Tea Ceremony, but that is only one example of how we can use tea in a meaningful way.

In my tradition, we take it a little further. I am talking about changing your world. I am talking about transforming your life and reaching your higher purpose. I’m talking about MAGICK! To me, the mingling of herbs and water makes perfect sense. In my experience tea is a powerful tool to have in your Magickal repertoire.

Tea transcends all traditions. You don’t have to be a Kitchen Witch, Hedge Witch, or Green Witch to use tea in your practice. You only need to gain a basic understanding of tea, tea blending, the herbs you plan to use, and how to fit it the ritual of making tea into your regular practice.

We have reached the point in the ever-turning wheel of the year when the days are short, and the nights are long. It’s dark and cold outside moving us to retreat indoors for warmth and comfort. As we seek comfort from the cold we also reach the point in our spiritual practice where we begin looking within. It is time to take stock of our lives, our paths, and in our successes or failures. It is time to go within so that when the light returns we too can be reborn.

I find myself turning to my tea recipes that are heavy with Cinnamon, Cardamom, and clove. My favorite is Chai. It really is no wonder. As I go within to plan and rebirth myself for the coming spring, using herbs and spices related to luck, prosperity, strength, success, and wealth are essential. The energy I retrieve from the ingredients I use will help boost my chances of success in all I set out to achieve.

The act of making tea is a mindful process. It helps bring us inward to the core of who we are and our practice as Witches. The best way to make Magickal Teas is to grow your own ingredients, harvest them with care and respect, and dry them yourself. This allows you the most control over the quality and potency of your ingredients. This is also the most cost-effective method of attaining your ingredients. When I see tea made from basic ingredients selling for over $10.00 per ounce I take a step back and wonder. Really, in my head, it’s a “WTF!” moment. Sure, some of the teas are very delicious, but they are not this tasty without a little help from some “natural” flavor. This alters the balance of the tea and gives tea companies the illusion of high quality and the advantage of selling their teas at a ridiculously high price. Why? Because they claim the quality of their product is in the flavor. Yeaaaah… OK.

In Tea Magick we recognize that plants have their own spirit, their own perceptive self from which we draw power. The simple truth is that plants don’t need humans to survive. In fact, most plants do much better when they are left alone by humans. Plants seem to offer their knowledge, energy, and healing powers to us willingly. It is up to the Witch to recognized and honor this gift. Growing your own ingredients will directly connect you with the energy of each plant you tend. As you nurture your plants, you will mingle your energy with the plant’s energy forming a bond that is extremely powerful in Magick.

BUT… This level of dedication and involvement is not practical for everyone. Some Witches live in cities where growing and processing herbs, spices, and fruits can cause stress. As you can conclude stress does not make a good relationship with your plants. This is when you can get creative in finding the right ingredients for your teas.

Farmer’s markets

This is probably the best resource you can use to find a variety of fruits, spices, and herbs to create your own unique tea blends. Not only will you find a good selection, you will also have the chance to talk with the people who run, harvest and manage the farm where the ingredients are grown. You can learn about their harvesting practices if they use pesticides/herbicides, and how they process the plants.

Online Suppliers

When you can’t find what you need from the Farmer’s Market there are several online suppliers you can trust. The key here is to purchase small amounts at first so you can sample the ingredients and determine their quality. When you find a supplier you trust, you can then buy in larger quantities and in the end – save money.

The Ritual of Tea

The process of brewing tea as a spiritual and Magickal act is one that opens the mind and connects the soul to subtle energies around us. As we mindfully move inward we are reconnected to the energies we tend to brush off or overlook. As we blend our ingredients we are brought into connection with the true purpose of our needs and desires. When the water boils we further solidify the process of creating that intimate connection.

Each plant used in blending tea for flavor and purpose is a direct manifestation of the elements: Earth, Air, Fire, and Water, working together to manifest nourishment, far beyond their medicinal or nutritional value. As we measure each scoop we take in the essence through the aroma of these elements. As we pour the water over our blends we transform seemingly mundane ingredients into an infusion filled with energy and intent. This is Tea Magick and this is how we can do great things in Magick. Be mindful of your ingredients, your water, and as you sip your tea. Move inward and embody what it is you wish to manifest.

There are many aspects of a tea ritual you can observe, but the main element you want to always observe is mindfulness. Below is a Chai Tea recipe I have created for you to try next to each ingredient I have listed one or two of the Magickal aspects of the ingredient. Please join us in the Tea Magick Facebook group and join us in our many conversations about Magick and tea.

Instructions

Instructions

Combine all ingredients except milk and sweetener, and simmer for 10 minutes. Allow to rest for 5-10 minutes more. Strain when serving.

Add hot milk, and mix, with your choice of honey or brown sugar.

Recipe Notes

Helpful Hints Place ingredients in a cloth tea bag and strain a second time through a fine mesh tea strainer to prevent solid bits of the tea mixture from getting into your cup. Noted Play with the ingredient ratios to get the perfect blend of spice and sweetness for your tea.

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5 thoughts on “Tea Magick, Going Within”

Such a wonderful and touching article… I often make teas for myself and as with other magical recipes, I can be found talking into my mortar as I call out the property I wish to come forth from each individual ingredient while adding them to the mix… As listed on your Chai recipe above, each ingredient has multiple properties… By calling out the needed character in that herb, you control the sum of the parts…so wonderful the use of the earth to manage the trials of our existence… Thank you for your participation in teaching me/us your knowledge… Blessed be…🌿🌿🌿

Thank you, Pamela. I am glad you enjoyed the article. There will be more to come with recipes. 😉
Calling out is a great example of identifying the aspects you wish to use. In my tradition, we sing and chant verses to identify the properties or rather the intent. I hope to offer more insight into technique with future posts. BB, Leandra

I’ve been enjoying your tea and ingredient topics very much. Would you ever consider a topic on honey (magical attributes, healing, spellwork)? Does it have any special uses or is it ‘parve’, a neutral ingredient.
TIA

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